The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-05-12
BOs==CERY.
Our Civil Service System la a Very Bad
Way.
The Latest Agony in the shape of New
Rules--EdltOr Dana Reads Between
the Lines OF the Ken ucky
Platform
Special Dispatch to the Enquirer.

WASHINGTON, u. u, May 7,-Thero mas
been much complaint on account of the
new Civil Service rules, which rsQuirs
clerks to undergo examination for pro
motion. 1t has been quite ur iq1ely
represented that the rules would pre-
vent the promotion Of old clerks of abil
ity and experience. The young men
fresh from school can pass better Civil
Service examinations than men whose
heads have been frOst-bitten these many
years. Commissioner 0berly declares,
however, that the examinations are not
to be technical, but that questions will
bearranged with references to the duties
to be performed. Mr.. 0berly also makes
q hard struggle to make 1t appear that
the heads Of bureaus are not entirely
ignored In the selection Of the clerks
under them. He claims that the rules
do not deprive the head of bureau Of q
proper discretion or authority In the
matter of promotions, but assist him Ia
the selection Of the best material, and
in resisting various influences that are
brought to fear to procure the promo
tI0n Of incompetent and unfit people.
What the ''Droper discretion an0 aU
thOrity" Of the head of bureau is, is
possibly an open question. The real
fact Is that the Civil Service rules make
him person Of not so much moment in
the selections and promotion Of his
clerks. Fir, Quently one Of his subOrdi
mates viii bB member IT the auxiliary
Examining Board, and have more to do
with the matter than h'a chief. Every
rRmifcatlOn Of our present Civil SeIv!ca
system seems to cake the question of
competency out Ut the hands Of those
who have the bRst means Of aScert In
ing 1t. The syttem Is becoming COM
plIcatsd. 1t has been the victim Of q
good deal Of tinkering.
INTERPRETING THE KENTUCKY FLAT.
FORM.
There has been a good deal Of diqcuj
sion as to What the Kentucky Demo-
cratic platform means touching the ad.
ministratiOn Of Mr.. Cleveland. The New
York San of tO day boldly undertakes
construction Cf the platform with this
result: "The limited approval given TO
Mr.. Cleveland by the Kentucky Demos
cratic convention cannot afford him
much satisfaC tiOn, unless he Is easily |
eatie fed The attitude Of the Kentucky
Democrats toward his administration !
might be expressed fairly and tsrsely in
such resolution as this:
"We are bitterly and unalterabIy 0p.
posed to the Civil Service scheme and |
his financial policy, but we believe him
to be honest"
stripped of perfunctOry compliment |
and reduced to their simplest terms, |
that is exactly what the Kentucky res0-
lutions say. They are anti demOnstra- |
tlon resolutions. They are an indict- |
ment Of the policy Of the Administra
tiOn, and the sugaring Of the pill can |
not make Its taste much less bitter.
Moreover, the Kentucky Democrats. |
in disagrseing with Mr.. Cleveland and |
cOndemning the two principal features
OF his Administration, are In agreement /
with the general sentiment of the Demo
crat party everywhere. Their opposition
to the Presidents policy Is not peculiar
or isolated; 1t is shared by the Democrats
Of other States. In Massachusetts,
sure Republican St ite, the mugwUmp
inhusnce may be sufficient 10 put Into
the State u mJcratic platform Tesolu
tiOns In favor of Chinese civil service
and anti eilver finance, hut even In Mas.
sachusetts the majority Of the party T.
opposed to these hobbies Of the Adm mis-.
tratiOn.
"In every Democratic Convention,
where politeness TO Mr.. Cleveland, or
consideration of supposed political pru-
dence does not prevail over plain and
honest speaking, there will be nothing
but condemnation for his blind adher-
ence to the schemes of the cranks who
are trying to found bureau cracy, and
to bis unhesitating adoption Of the false
predictions OF the other cranks who pro
phesy that silver dollars mean panic and
ruin. Whether or not there be plain
speaking about these things In the
Democratic conventions of this year,
there Is a good deal Of pain thinking
Rbont them going on.
"Yet in spite of all this; In spite Of the
evidence of weakening In the party or.
In spite OF theory and con-
duct for the civil service and finance of I
the Government directly opposed to the
continuous practice of the Democratic
party when 1t has held power, and TO
the convictions of aine-tentts of Its ,
members; In spite OF myrlads Of Irish !
American voters alienated by the ap
pointment Of an sctivj Angl0manic to
be Minister to the Court Of st. James, Ia
spite of the Psn-Electric scandal; In
spite Of the neglect with which the de-
mands Of the fishermen Of Maine and !
Massachusetts, have been treated, the
cry Is raised that Mr.. Cleveland must be I
nominated once more, not because ne is {
wanted, but because, as Mr.. BreCken-
ridge told the Kentucky convention,
He is the best we can do Perhaps so, !
and DerhaDe not"